Confirming What We Already Know

If you read the Wall Street Journal yesterday, you probably noticed a full-page ad featuring EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy telling Americans to “suck it up” over skyrocketing electricity bills. While we agree, skyrocketing bills are coming your way, that ad didn’t come from us. It came from a group called Environmental Policy Alliance who launched a new site epafacts.com yesterday to call attention to little issues at EPA like transparency and secret science, as well as what the true cost Americans will bear as a result of its overreaching regulations.

The Environmental Policy Alliance is not alone in wanting to know more about what goes on behind the closed doors at EPA. In fact, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has weighed-in on the matter and is opening a full investigation on the EPA decision-making process relating to the agency’s consideration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies as it relates to creating greenhouse gas emission standards for new power plants. The letter to Administrator McCarthy specifically mentions how section 111 of the Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to impose emission standards using carbon capture technologies that have been “adequately demonstrated” which does not legally include those that are federally funded. A plant that we are quite familiar with, the Kemper County facility in Mississippi, is federally funded, has the CCS technology and is a great starting point but is not ready to be duplicated for many reasons.

The House Energy investigation as well as the site epafacts.com confirms what we already know: EPA’s regulations are far too stringent and will be destructive to our way of life. By continuing on their rampage of taking coal out of the mix, energy costs for families will continue to rise, forcing some to make the unbearable choice to keep the lights on or put food on the table. In addition, coal-fired plants around the country are facing retirements that will result in jobs lost and an unreliable grid that can’t deliver power when it’s needed most. Thankfully, our legislators are starting to listen, and hopefully will put a stop to EPA’s overzealous regulations which ultimately will inflict much pain without any real gain. If you haven’t already, visit eparegscostjobs.com and send a comment to McCarthy’s EPA and stand up for affordable, reliable power and American jobs.

Mike Duncan is the president and CEO for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the use of coal...
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Laura SheehanSenior Vice President
Communications

Laura Sheehan is a seasoned public affairs expert with more than a 20-year track record in policy communications, media relations, crisis and issues management, community and...
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Julia TreanorSenior Director
Communications

Julia Treanor is a strategic communications and public affairs professional with nearly 10 years of experience in digital strategy, issue advocacy, political communications, media ...
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Jade DavisSenior Director
State Affairs and Outreach

Jade Davis is the Senior Director of State Affairs and Outreach at ACCCE. In his current role, Jade works with ACCCE’s regional and communications staff and government affairs staff ...
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Darian GhorbiDirector
Policy Analysis

Darian Ghorbi is the Director of Policy Analysis at ACCCE. Prior to joining ACCCE, Darian spent five years working for the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Elizabeth JenningsCommunications Specialist

Elizabeth Jennings is ACCCE’s Communications Specialist acting as an integral part of our communications team. She works to expand the reach of our message through traditional and new media platforms....
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The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is committed to the idea that America can have the affordable, reliable electricity we need, with the clean environment we want. ACCCE’s Behind the Plug blog is the place for up-to-date news and analysis on clean coal technology developments and energy policy progress.
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